Frank B. Gilbreth. "The Study of Motion from the Standpoint of the Increase of National Wealth." ("Annals of the American Academy," 1915, May, pp. 96 et seq.)

..."The movements of each individual, regardless of what his work is, have been studied and standardized...

...In laying bricks, the movements used for laying one brick were reduced from 18 to 5, with an increase in output from 120 bricks per hour to 350 per hour. In laying cotton fabric from 20 to 30 movements were reduced to 10 or 12, with the result that instead of 150 dozen pieces of fabric being laid, 400 dozen were laid without any increase in fatigue. The movements of a girl affixing labels to jars of shoe ointment were studied. Her methods were changed only slightly, and whereas previously she completed 24 jars in 40 seconds, she then completed 24 in 20 seconds with less effort. Such study contributed to a reduction in movements not only of men and women in other professions, but also of the movements of doctors, nurses, clerical workers—in short, the movements of workers of every type of work subjected to study"... (96-97)

Assembly of string-tying machines ..."whereas 18 string-tying machines were assembled by one person in a day, it now proved possible for one person to assemble 66 string-tying machines in a day without any increase in fatigue" (97)...

The newest method = 1) study of micro-movements... 2) use of the "chronocyclograph" (97)...

I. "Clocks recording micro-movements" are placed in front of the worker, recording "various moments of the time of day in each frame of the film depicting the movement" (98)...

II. "The chronocyclographic method of setting up the study of movement consists in attaching small electric light bulbs to the fingers of the operator or to some part of the body of the operator or of the material whose path of movement it is desired to study"... (the movement of light is photographed, its trajectory) (98).

The interest of all of society in these studies... "A characteristic result is the gradual closing of the gap between school and factory. Intensive study of movements proves that there is far greater similarity in trades and even professions from the mechanical standpoint than we could ever have considered possible. The industrial world will increasingly demand young workers trained in finger dexterity"... (101)...

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In public schools this should be taught:

...«finger dexterity,» that is, such training of the muscles whereby they would readily and quickly respond to the Requirements of skilled labor»...

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At present there is occurring "enormous waste" (102) from fragmented, repetitive, etc. "research"... "It is the business of the Government of the United States to establish such a bureau for standardization of mechanical trades. The standards established and collected there would be

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V. I. LENIN

public property, and independent researchers would be able to invent further standards on the basis of them" (103)...

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a splendid example of technical progress under capitalism toward socialism.

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